Oligospermia (low sperm count) is one known cause of male infertility. It only takes one single sperm to fertilize an egg, but the odds of that single sperm reaching the egg are very low. The importance of a large number of healthy sperms in fertilization is fairly obvious.

Smoking cigarettes has a profound effect on sperm count and also on the quality of sperm. Let's just take a quick look at just a few of over 40 chemicals that are found in each and every cigarette.

*Acetone (nail polish remover)
*Benzene (petrol additive)
*Carbon Monoxide (car exhaust fumes)
*Arsenic (rat poison)
*Formaldehyde (embalming fluid)
*Hydrogen Cyanide (gas chamber poison)
*Ammonia (toilet cleaner)
* Tar
*Nicotine (insecticide)

A study coming out of the University of Buffalo indicated that approximately two-thirds of chronic smokers failed a test that measures the ability of sperm to fertilize an egg. Loni Burkman is associated professor and head of the Section on Andrology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and an assistant professor of urology. Burkman explains the problems as follows:

"In this new study, we examined whether sperm from chronic tobacco smokers are defective in binding to the zona, the cover surrounding an egg. Our results could mean that heavy smoking overloads the nicotine receptor in human sperm and in the testes, leading to a decline in fertilizing potential."

Further Burkman warns "Smoking men also should be aware that smoking damage their sperm DNA, passing on faulty DNA to their baby. Concerned smoker should quit or be tested in a local Andrology laboratory."

Burkman is not alone is touting the problem. Bruce Ames in an interview in Science Today states "Because smoke is filled with nitrogen oxides, which are powerful oxidizing agents and they deplete all your anti-oxidants, vitamin C goes down, vitamin E goes down. 107 so the two together, smoking and bad diet, are not only mutating the cells in your body and giving you cancer, but they're mutating the DNA of your sperm and giving your children cancer."

Does this mean that men who smoke can not parent healthy and happy babies? No. However the odds of have problems with fertility are much greater is smokers. The odds of having a baby with genetic problems related to smoking are greater.

Quitting is hard. Smoking is an addiction. However, if you trying for a healthy family it should definitely be something you consider.

Reference:
www.medicalnewstoday.com
www.ucop.edu

Learn more about this author, Trenna Sue Hiler.
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